Supporting and moving device for refuse sacks



March 11, 1969 SMEDLUND 3,431,704

SUPPORTING AND MOVING DEVICE FOR REFUSE SACKS Filed April 20, 1967 Z IN VEN TOR.

{79 n nr 3m QJlam United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multiple sack holder for refuse collection bags or sacks in which a number of the sacks are suspended in separate telescopic frames, which frames are hung by rollers in the horizontal beams of a supporting frame. The sacks are reinforced at their mouths by means of collapsible rims and clamping means not only holds the rims at the top edge of each sack but such means also serves as a means for coupling together the rims of adjacent sacks. The sacks move along the supporting beams, one after another, to filling position and by means of a photocell circuit-actuated drive means, a filled sack is removed from its filling position below a refuse chute and another sack is brought to an open position under the chute.

There is a known method often employed in large buildings for the collection of refuse in sacks, in which sacks are hung in a rotary-type arrangement that automatically indexes to bring a fresh sack under the refuse chute when the sack in advance of it becomes full. For reasons of space, such a rotary arrangement can only be made to hold a limited number of the sacks so that manual servicing of the apparatus is required at regular intervals.

The present invention enables the extension of these intervals through facilitating the storage, and the convenient location of the sacks for quick placing of the same under the refuse chute, and this without occupying a substantial amount of space.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 shows a sack supporting and moving apparatus viewed from the side and constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section at line 11-11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the apparatus viewed from above with the side beams of the supporting frame partly cut away;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a detail of the means for securing the sack in locked and unlocked positions respectively;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line VI-VI in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a flight and FIG. 9 shows a modification.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a refuse chute 1. Under this chute an open sack 2 is shown as being supported by frames 3 suspended in rollers 4 which run along longitudinal and horizontal beams 5 mounted in a main supporting frame 6. In the first supporting device two of the frames 3 are connected in such a way that the sack is constantly open at the top or at its mouth. The sacks which follow such open sack in the direction of transportation, are compacted in a manner to occupy the least possible space during the storage period. This is made possible by the folding arrangement of the rim 7 disposed around the mouth of each of the sacks and over which the top edge of the sack is folded. In the embodiment herein shown, the desired result has been achieved by bringing the two rim sections together in the hinged connection 8. The rim may consist of two strips of flexible steel strip fixed to two individual frames 3. The ends of 3,431,704 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 the strips are hingedly joined together at the hinged connection 8. Alternately the rim might be composed of a continuous ring of flexible plastic, such as propylene, and of such a type as permits a virtually unlimited num- 5 her of flexings at a given point.

The frames 3 for the folded sacks are linked to each other and to the first frame by tubes 9 of telescopic type, which can move one within the other and which pull out the frames one by one, to the filling position under the refuse chute 1 as each filled sack is moved away by a motor-driven chain 10. This occurs because when the sack is full, a beam of light from a lamp 11 toward a photocell is interrupted so that an impulse is received. This is done in a known manner and it causes the chain 10 to start moving and to move the filled sack away from filling position. The first frame 3 is connectable to the chain 10 by virtue of a flight 12 which, as shown in FIG. 7, and also in FIG. 8, consists of a spring-biased bolt 13 which, in its engaged position, is entered between the links of the chain 10. The bolt and resultantly the sacks can be freed from the chain by means of the lever shown at 14.

FIG. 6 shows how the sacks are fixed to the rims. Two rims 7 and 7' are supported by a frame 3. Two sacks are designated at 2 and 2'. The edges of the sacks are folded over rims 7 and 7' and secured in such position by an arrangement 15 which, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, consists of a U-shaped clamp 16 carried on a pivoting arm 17 which is journalled in the main frame. As seen in FIG. 6, the edge of the sack is secured between the rim 7 and the parts 16 and 17 respectively, so that the sack is locked to the rim at two diametrically opposite points, and this is sufficient to retain the folded-over edge to the rim all around the top of the sack. When the sack is removed, the arm 17 is pivoted upwardly as shown in FIG. 5, to release the edge of the sack.

At 18 is shown a limit switch which shuts oif a drive motor 19 for the chain 10 when the first sack reaches the end position. When the folded sacks are pulled out to the opening position, this is achieved by the chain pulling the first frame while the other is retained by a retainer 20 which does not release until the whole sack is to be transported away from the refuse chute.

In order to simplify the removal of the sack in a confined space, the rims may be arranged as shown in FIG. 9 with guides 21 that can be pulled out of the frames in a direction at right angles to the beams 5. For support and protection the sack can be arranged in a rectangularly U-shaped plastic enclosure 22.

Having thus described an embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for supporting and moving a plurality of refuse collection sacks comprising, a supporting frame in which a plurality of the sacks are supported in mouthupward position, frames in which each of the sacks is supported, beams on which the frames are movably supported, said beams being a part of the supporting frame, the sacks being normally maintained in the frames in a flattened, collapsed condition in a row and being movable, one after another, along the supporting beams to open position and below a refuse chute located above the supporting frame.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sacksupporting frames are in telescoped relation so that the frames can be telescopically fitted one within another.

3. A device. according to claim 1, wherein the sacks are suspended in the frames by means of folding rims attached to the same, the rims for adjacent sacks being 3 connected by a clamp which also serves to secure the sack edges around the mouth of the sack and which edges are folded over the rim.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the clamp is carried in a pivoting arm which is journalled in the sack frame.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sack frames carry rollers, a chain engaging each frame and moving the same to thereby move a filled sack away from filling position, and means operative by the positioning of a filled sack to actuate the chain and cause the filled sack to be moved away from filling position and a new sack to be moved into such position.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sacks are automatically caused to move from the storage position to the opening position by means of a photocell circuit including a motor and a limit switch and which when light from a lamp is interrupted by a filled sack,

causes the filled sack to be moved in the main frame by means of a chain drive, and a new sack to be moved forward to a position under the refuse chute.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the filled sack is linked to the chain by means of a flight provided with a spring-biased bolt that is moved into and out of engagement with the chain.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,242,630 3/1966 Danielzig 53-186 X 3,260,488 7/1966 Kliewer et al. 248-99 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

E. F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 53l89 

